The Patriot Actress Skye McCole Bartusiak Found Dead at 21

Skye McCole Bartusiak, who melted hearts on the big screen playing Mel Gibson's daughter in 2000's The Patriot, has died. She was 21.

The cause of death was not immediately known, according to Variety, but she reportedly died in her sleep Saturday while at her Texas home.

A family spokesperson described her as "a brave and caring young woman" who is "deeply missed by her family and friends," reports Deadline.

As a child star, the Texas native also appeared in The Cider House Rules (1999), Don't Say a Word (2001) and Boogeyman (2005). According to her IMDB page, she most recently starred in a short 7-minute comedy called Frame of Reference (2013).

Bartusiak also made her way to the small screen on shows such as 24, Lost, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and House M.D.